Tag Archives: travel

Tymate TM2 RV Tire Pressure Monitoring System

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Towing a camper can be a stressful endeavor. Safety for you and your family should be the highest priority. Prior to camp trips (especially longer trips), I have a to-do checklist including checking lug nuts, adding or reducing air pressure in tires, and a taking a look underneath and around the camper for any visible problems .Maintaining appropriate tire pressure is essential to both your safety and the longevity of your tires. Tires that are underinflated can cause heat buildup, which will lead to tire damage or even worse, a tire blowout. Likewise with overinflated tires. Checking your tire pressure before you embark on your camping adventure is not enough. It is essential that you monitor both the tire pressure and the temperature during the towing .I wanted a decent system at a budget price. I found the Tymate TM2 on Amazon. The list price for this monitoring system is $79.99. However, there are times that Amazon has a “limited time deal” at the price of $59.99. CLICK HERE for a link to this product on Amazon. There is a newer version available on the Tymate website HERE. At first, I bought this for my Toyota Tundra. It is an older model truck that does not have a built-in tire pressure monitor system. I liked the product, so I ended up buying one for the camper as well. The installation process is easy. You simply screw the sensors onto the valve stem of each tire.

Each sensor sends a signal to a monitor you place on the dashboard. It will give real time updates on both tire pressure and temperature. An alarm will go off if you have a fast leak or your tire pressure gets to 25% above or below the tire pressure threshold you set. There are a wide range of recommended tire pressure settings depending on make, model and size of the tires, so be sure to know the appropriate settings. Additionally, outdoor air temperature and travel time increases pressure inside the tires. You will want to set the parameters appropriately to account for normal fluctuations.

The system includes a USB cord for charging. In addition, it can be solar charged. I hardly ever have it plugged into the USB port. The solar power is enough. My only problem I have with this particular model is the accuracy. During one tow, I noticed the tire pressure number had not changed in a while. As you move, the tires heat up which increases tire pressure. What I determined is that the sensors were not correctly connecting to the monitor on my dashboard. The product description states that those towing campers longer than 36 feet should buy an optional repeater to boost the signal. My camper is 28 feet. So, I am not sure why the tire pressure value did not update, but that was discouraging. On another trip, the number disappeared for one of the tire numbers. It only lasted for 10 minutes or so, but I have no idea why this occurred. In the end, you get what you pay for. This is a low-cost system. You can buy more expensive models that may be more reliable. But for the most part, this system works for my needs.

Postcards from_____________.

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postcardsWe recently returned from a trip to discover two postcards had come in the mail from my brother.  He travels a good bit for business and pleasure and frequently sends postcards to the family.  It is a nice gesture and lets us know he is thinking about us on his travels.  It made me think how I should do a better job of doing the same on our travels!  After further thought, I had a simple solution to one of our frequent dilemmas.  We often go to book stays at our favorite campgrounds only to discover that we have forgotten the best sites where we like to set up.  A simple solution is to send a postcard to OURSELVES on our travels with the best campsites written on the back.  These postcards can then be easily organized by location (the picture is on the front!) and kept in a small photo album. I would recommend the kind that hold a single photo in a clear sleeve, so you can flip through and see both front and back. Purchase a roll of postcard stamps so you don’t need to find a post office to purchase them.  Simply mail the cards in any postal dropbox.  Sure, if you want to spare the expense, you could simply collect the cards as you go – but I like the idea that the postmark also keeps track of the date you visited.

Camping Tip of the Day: Keep a Journal

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Ok, gentlemen, don’t freak out when I say journal. I did not say diary  LOL:) A journal is a great way to keep track of your camping adventures. It also helps you remember which campgrounds and specifically, which campsites you like. Often, you will find campgrounds that you would like to revisit in the future. Many of RV stores, like Camping World, have hardbound camping journals you can buy. Or you can just use a standard composition book. Heck, it’s 2014 and we are in the Age of Technology. Use your computer or tablet to maintain a journal.

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Here are some things to consider when completing your journal:

1. Name/address/phone number of the campground.

2. Name(s) of the friendly staff members you dealt with. If you decided to return to that campground you can ask for them by name.

3. List things you liked about the campground.

4. List the things you did not like.

5. List the campsite number you were at. Amy and I make it a habit to drive around the campground before we leave. We write down all the sites we would like to try the next time and the ones we want to avoid.

6. List names of restaurants you enjoyed while camping there (if you ate out).

7. List the names of places (i.e. parks, museums, etc.) you visited or activities you enjoyed.

8. If you made any new camping friends, write down their names/numbers/e-mail addresses. Who knows, maybe you can meet up in the future….

Here at Crazy4camping, we would love to hear your reviews of the various campgrounds you have visited. Please send us an e-mail at crazy4camping1@gmail.com

HAPPY CAMPING!!!

Camping Tip of the Day

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If you are traveling with pets, prior to leaving for your trip, research the local vets in case of an emergency.  It would be a good idea to contact the vet ahead of time to find out what papers you should bring with you. Also, ask the campground if they have any suggested vets that have a reputation for great service. If they do not have a list of vets, contact the local Better Business Bureau. Happy camping!!!

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